Couple of drips of coolant sometimes after driving my car?

Tiny
BETHR9
  • MEMBER
  • 2016 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 66,000 MILES
I notice a couple of drips of coolant sometimes after driving my car. It did it a few weeks ago and did it again last week and actually did it last night again (I don't drive the car every day though also). I took it to my mechanic, and they did a pressure test and it held pressure at the recommended pressure (14 I believe) and said it even went up to 20 for 30-45 minutes. They also put a camera in there (I'm not exactly sure where) and didn't see anything. They did see some berries and other vegetation so obviously a rodent as gotten in there, but I knew that from before. There's purple fluid but that's from a car wash, I'm almost positive. The drips are for sure coolant. But again, it's just a drip or 2. A napkin cleans it up, no problem. Thoughts on what it might be?
Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 AT 5:58 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,513 POSTS
What area is it leaking from, front or rear of the engine compartment? If toward the front I would say you have a radiator or water pump leak. I would raise the front of the vehicle and remove the skid pan and then use a flashlight to try to see the dried coolant.

This guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-is-leaking-coolant

I included an image to help us see common places it can drip from. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
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Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 AT 8:31 AM
Tiny
BETHR9
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It is from the front. Wouldn't a pressure test detect a leak though? That's what has us scratching our head on what these drips are. I tried to attach a couple of pictures, but they must not have attached. I'll try again. If you stand at the front of the vehicle, the drip on the ground is to the right about 8 inches back from the edge of vehicle.
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Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 AT 9:11 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,513 POSTS
Thanks for the images. It looks like the radiator is leaking, yes you can do a pressure test which will help find the leak. Once the system has pressure use a flashlight to look at the side of the radiator when the plastic tank meets the aluminum core.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

Here is how to change out the radiator in case you need it. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, October 26th, 2023 AT 11:10 AM
Tiny
BETHR9
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  • 3 POSTS
Just updating that it was indeed the radiator. Pinhole leak was found and thus why it would hold pressure during the pressure test.
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Tuesday, October 31st, 2023 AT 10:54 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,513 POSTS
Thanks for letting us know, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 AT 9:27 AM

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